Penguins Bring Back Kasperi Kapanen, Send 2020 First Round Draft Pick To Toronto
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Forward Kasperi Kapanen is heading back to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was drafted by the team in 2014 and later traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the deal that brought Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh.
Canadian sports journalist Elliotte Friedman, with Hockey Night in Canada, first reported the trade on Twitter.
Kasperi Kapanen is being traded to PIT
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 25, 2020
As part of the trade, the Penguins are getting Kapanen, Maple Leafs' defensive prospect Jesper Lindgren and forward Pontus Aberg. In return, the Maple Leafs get the Penguins' 2020 first round draft pick, forwards Evan Rodrigues and Filip Hallander and defenseman David Warsofsky.
The Penguins were set to pick 15th overall in this year's draft.
???? TRADE ALERT ????
The Penguins have acquired forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Pontus Aberg, and defenseman Jesper Lindgren from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, David Warsofsky, Filip Hallander and a 2020 1st round draft pick.
Details: https://t.co/VuyC7FB4bb pic.twitter.com/KZAwEVO0lY
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 25, 2020
Kapanen, 24, of Kuopio, Finland, is signed through the 2021-2022 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $3.2 million.
Kapanen was drafted by the Pens in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft. He was traded to the Leafs on July 1, 2015.
In a news release, Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford says, "Kasperi is a good, young player that brings speed to our lineup and plays the way we want to play. Having previously drafted him, we know him as a player and feel he can improve our top-6. Aberg and Lindgren are both young players that will further add to our organizational depth."
Can confirm Kapanen to Penguins is happening. Waiting to hear on return to Toronto, which should be interesting. Kapanen was GMJR's first draft pick with Penguins. His dad played on GMJR's Carolina teams. Long history there.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) August 25, 2020
In 202 career regular-season games, all with Toronto, Kapanen has 41 goals, 49 assists and 90 points.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.